Pregnancy causes women's bodies to have many major changes in hormones and metabolism. During this period, some women may develop gestational diabetes, which is a high blood sugar level that appears for the first time during pregnancy.
Many people believe that the disease will go away on its own after giving birth. However, according to Dr. Shruti Chandak, obstetrician and gynecologist at KIMS Hospital (India), although blood sugar usually returns to normal after birth, women who have had gestational diabetes are still at risk of metabolic disorders in the future.
What is gestational diabetes?
Gestational diabetes occurs when the mother's body does not control blood sugar well during pregnancy. The main cause is related to hormonal changes.
During pregnancy, the placenta secretes a lot of hormones that help the fetus develop but can also reduce the effectiveness of insulin. At that time, the body has difficulty bringing sugar from the blood into the cells to create energy, leading to increased blood sugar.
According to Dr. Chandak, women who have difficulty controlling blood sugar during pregnancy may have a higher risk of metabolic disorders in the future.
Does this condition disappear after birth?
In many cases, the mother's blood sugar will return to normal within a few weeks after birth. The reason is that the placenta, which secretes insulin-resistant hormones, has been removed from the body.
However, women who have had gestational diabetes are still at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Some studies show that this risk may appear within 5-10 years after birth, especially if they do not maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Therefore, doctors recommend that women who have had gestational diabetes should check their blood sugar from 6 to 12 weeks after giving birth. This helps determine whether blood sugar has returned to normal or not.
Long-term health risks
Gestational diabetes is not only related to blood sugar during pregnancy but can also be a warning sign of some health problems later.
Women who have had this condition are at higher risk for:
Type 2 diabetes
Obesity or difficulty controlling postpartum weight
Cardiovascular disease in old age
Metabolic syndrome, including high blood pressure and excess fat accumulation in the body
These risks show that postpartum health monitoring is very necessary, even when pregnancy has ended.
What to do to reduce the risk?
The risk of type 2 diabetes after gestational diabetes can be reduced if the mother proactively takes care of her health. Experts recommend postpartum women to maintain a healthy diet, exercise regularly, control weight and have regular blood sugar check-ups.
In addition, breastfeeding is also beneficial for the mother's health, helping to burn energy and support improving insulin sensitivity.
